The Master Gardener volunteer program provides an opportunity for individuals interested
in gardening to learn and serve their communities. In Pulaski County, Master Gardeners
volunteer on 29 public garden projects ranging from a wildflower demonstration garden
at Pinnacle Mountain State Park, to a vegetable garden at Historic Arkansas Museum
and butterfly garden at the Amy Sanders Library in Sherwood. Interested in becoming
a Master Gardener volunteer in Pulaski County? Contact Beth Phelps, CEA-Staff Chair at the Pulaski County Office.Learn more about the Pulaski County Master Gardener Program

Photo: Peanuts harvested from the Historic Arkansas Museum Garden - Pulaski County
Master Gardener Project of the Year 2013.

Gardens and Lawns

Pulaski County residents are interested in maintaining their lawns, landscapes and
vegetable gardens using environmentally sound practices and environmentally safe products.
The University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service, Pulaski County assisted
over 6,000 county residents in 2012 with the information they needed to safeguard
the environment as they maintain healthy lawns, beautiful landscapes and productive
vegetable gardens. Link to information that will help you keep your garden, landscape
and lawn green and growing. For more information contact Beth Phelps, CEA-Staff Chair.

Photo: Information helps grow healthy gardens.

Outdoor Water Efficiency Program

Sprinkler Smart Program is a partnership between Central Arkansas Water and The University of Arkansas Cooperative
Extension Service, Pulaski County. The program provides education to homeowners,
and irrigation/landscape contractors in Pulaski County to be more efficient with outdoor
watering practices. The program offers educational workshops and free sprinkler
system audits for residents of Pulaski County. Not only can homeowners conserve water,
they can reduce their water bill. The average savings for audit participants is $48
through the summer watering season. To schedule a workshop or a sprinkler system audit
contact Mark Brown CEA-Water Conservation/Horticulture.

Photo: Sprinkler system audit with homeowner

4-H

The mission of 4-H is to provide opportunities for youth to acquire knowledge, develop
life skills, form attitudes, and practice behavior that will enable them to become
self-directing, productive, and contributing members of society. In Pulaski County
today, there are more than 300 youth enrolled in 4-H Clubs and thousands more experience
a 4-H Youth Development educational program within the year. Membership in 4-H is
absolutely free and provides you with a world of opportunity!

Citizenship and Leadership Program

How can children benefit from a parachute and a potato sack? By developing their
leadership skills and practicing working as a team through a series of games such
as three leg sack races and parachute tosses, according to Elizabeth Easley, 4-H Program
Assistant. Through games youth are building skills that will help prepare them for
future endeavors.

"We want to encourage the development of youth into responsible, well-informed citizens
and future leaders," said Easley. "We do this through a series of fun, interactive
games and activities targeting specific life skills."

Several programs in September, October and November will be offered in the citizenship
and leadership program series. Each session will focus on a specific topic. Among
the topics that will be covered in upcoming sessions include flag etiquette, community
service, and county government. "While we place an emphasis on the main topic each
session, throughout the entire series youth are given opportunities to work on their
leadership and communication skills," explained Easley.

The citizenship and leadership programs will be held on Saturdays (October 4, 11,
and 25 and November 1, 2014). For more information or to sign up for the programs,
please contact Elizabeth Easley at 870-295-7720.